[pevey]

Oral contraceptives do have side effects, including effects on mental health. Sometimes the effects seem to be positive. Often, they are quite negative.

These effects are not taken seriously/acknowledged by the vast majority of medical professionals, so I don't see how it is relevant to whether the pills have to be prescribed. It is a separate issue.

People should be free to make their own choice without going through a gatekeeper who adds no value. Most often, women making the choices are more informed (by their social network) of the wide range of potential side effects than their doctor is, who may or may not have a uterus and may or may not take reports of side effects seriously.

[thepasswordis]

There's an association with "needs a prescription" that people have about the seriousness of the medication that they are taking. "Over the counter" sortof implies that you can't mess it up, or that it isn't really dangerous

[pevey]

If that is the standard, only homeopathic stuff should be available OTC. No [side] effects at all. :)

[sweetjuly]

>These effects are not taken seriously by the vast majority of medical professionals

This is what is so baffling about so many of the ridiculous comments here. It's so disturbingly common for doctors to ignore bad individual interactions and just call women dramatic. It's shockingly hard to find anyone who will even so much as listen. Prescribers will throw some random BC pill at you and if it doesn't work for you, tough, try your luck with another doctor/NP. The system doesn't provide any protection, it frankly just makes it worse.

[jncfhnb]

If you put up gates to one option but not to others you are tunneling them into the one. Regardless of doctor value.